Shad examines world's troubles in powerful new album

IF YOU GO: What: Album release by Juno-winning London rapper Shad Special guests: Sum-01 and DJ Hullewud. When: Nov. 22, 8 p.m. Where: The 27 Club, 27 York St. Tickets: $20 advanced, available at www.ticketfly.com, Vertigo Records, Compact Musical locations

In Shad’s world, the truth doesn’t just set you free, it’s also bullet-proof.

At least, that’s Shadrach Kabango’s hope, expressed in the final song of his new album, A Short Story About a War, which hits stores Friday.

It’s his first rap album release in five years and he’ll be promoting it on his first tour in four years with a stop in his hometown of London, Ont., on Nov. 2.

The tour will take Shad to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, a return to Canada for dates in Montreal, Quebec City and Ottawa before heading to the west coast with stops in to Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland and San Francisco and winding up in Toronto for two shows at The Great Hall Dec. 14 and 15.

It’s a concept album that marks a huge departure for the one-time host of CBC’s q and host of the HBO documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution, which has won Emmy and Peabody awards.

The album touches on a long list of the world’s troubles, from war to migration, environment, politics, racism, hate, violence and greed with song titles such as Sniper, The Revolution/The Establishment, The Stone Throwers (Gone in a Blink), The Fool Pt 1 (Get it Got it Good), Peace/War, and The Fool Pt 2 (Water).

“It’s very different from my other projects . . . I do love surprising people, capturing their attention and their imagination,” Shad, Canada’s best-known rapper not named Drake, said in a telephone interview.

“I started to think about this idea about five years ago and it was still there and still fresh when I went into the studio (about 18 months ago) . . . It’s a story about a fictional desert war and there’s one character (the Fool) who picks up a bullet lying in the sand and says, ‘Is this what you’re all scared of?’ ”

Shad examines a number of questions and issues in the songs — the music driven by tension, anger, fear and a sense of urgency — in various styles of hip hop, including trap, funk and jazz.

The Fool is visited in three songs, giving the listener the lighter tones a comfort and break from the heavy moments.

“It’s about thinking through all the tensions in our world, about what it takes to live peacefully in this world, to find love in the world,” Shad explained.

“The Fool gives you hope, a radically different perspective. He doesn’t buy into all the violence. It asks us to consider: How much does fear dictate how we live and how much of this fear is caused by illusion?

“I think we all live with a lot of fear in our hearts and it dictates how we deal with each other, how we talk to each other, how we spend our money, like we’re in that fight or flight mode all the time, which is what happens when we’re in constant fear or under stress.”

Guest artists and engineers on the album include Polaris Prize winners Kaytranada and Lido Pimienta, Tim (2oolman) Hill of A Tribe Called Red, Vancouver-based rock band Yukon Blonde and Toronto rap veterans Ian Kamau, Eternia and DJ T Lo.

Shad has never been afraid to explore tough issues in his music, which is one of the reasons he’s also been recognized with three Juno nominations for his last three rap albums, The Old Prince (2007), TSOL (2010, which won the Juno for rap recording of the year) and Flying Colours (2013). All three albums were short-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.

In 2016, Shad also released a pop-rock album, Adult Contempt, under the pseudonym Your Boy Tony Braxton.

But he returns to rap with lots to say on the 13 tracks, even a few words directed at U.S. President Donald Trump, whom Shad views as a symptom of the world’s problems rather than a cause and a “master at playing on that.”

A Short Story About a War isn’t just a good album; it’s a powerful, important work perfectly timed for these turbulent times.

Born in Kenya to Rwandan parents who escaped the 1990 genocide but have since returned there to live in retirement, Shad was raised in London and recorded his first album, 2005’s When This Is Over, financing the project with $17,500 he won from a radio station talent contest.

In 2015, Shad took over as host of CBC Radio 1’s pop culture talk show q after the departure of disgraced host Jian Ghomeshi, fired in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment or assault (and later acquitted).

Shad’s gig lasted a little more than 16 months, critics complaining his interviews were too scripted.

“I had a great time with q,” said Shad. “I wanted a challenge at the time and it was a challenge, and I got to work with some wonderful, smart people. I came away very proud.”

The Hip Hop Evolution, now distributed by Netflix, documents the history of hip hop and is now in its second season, having garnered critical acclaim and multiple Canadian Screen Awards.

Shad’s world has changed dramatically the last few years. He married his wife Sheilagh in the summer of 2016 and became a father with the birth of daughter Amara in early October. The family lives in west Toronto.

“It’s been great,” said Shad. “She’s not fussy or anything, giving us rookie parents a break. And we have lots of support from our families. I thought there would be a lot more chaos, but it’s been pretty good.”

On the tour, Shad will be travelling with a percussionist, a DJ and a synthesizer player. He said he’s looking forward to performing in front of his London friends and fans and will be playing selections from his musical catalogue along with a few tunes from the new alum.

“This feels great,” said Shad of hitting the road again. “I love a creative challenge, moving people and touching people with my music is my greatest joy.”

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